Lorna Rivera
Biography
I am the Director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy, and Professor of Higher Education in the Leadership in Education Department at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. I earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Northeastern University. My research focuses on Latino Studies, the social determinants of health, adult literacy and the education of Latinx students.
Area of Expertise
Latina/o studies, Social Determinants of Health, Adult Literacy education, Education of Latina/o students
Degrees
Ph.D. Sociology, Northeastern University
M.A. Sociology (concentration in Gender Studies), Northeastern University
B.S. Elementary Education, DePaul University
State of Illinois Teaching License K-9, Social Studies & Language Arts
Professional Publications & Contributions
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Books
Rivera, L. and Colon, M. Eds. (In press, 2025) Critical Perspectives on Latino Education in Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts Press.
Rivera, L. (2008). Laboring to Learn: Women’s Literacy and Poverty in the Post-Welfare Era. University of Illinois Press. Winner of 2009 Cyril O. Houle Award for Outstanding Literature.
Journal Articles
Hohn, M. and Rivera, L. (2019). “Results of a Two-Year Study: The Impact and Outcomes of Integrating Health Literacy Education into Boston’s Adult Basic Education Programs.” Journal of Health Literacy Research and Practice. 3(3 Suppl) S25-S32. https://doi.org/10.3928/24748307-20190325-01
Saltmarsh, J. Warren, M. Krueger-Henney, P. Rivera, L., Fleming, R. Haig-Friedman, D. and M. Uriarte. (2015). “Creating an Academic Culture that Supports Community-Engaged Scholarship.” Diversity and Democracy. V18 (1). Pp. 12-15. https://dgmg81phhvh63.cloudfront.net/content/user-photos/Publications/Archives/Diversity-Democracy/DD_18-1_WI15.pdf
Fletcher,K., H.G. Prigerson, E. Paulk, J. Temel, E. Finlay, L. Marr, R. McCorkle, L. Rivera, F.Munoz, P. Maciejewski. (2013). “Gender Differences in the Evolution of Illness Understanding Among Patients with Advanced Cancer.” Journal of Supportive Oncology. v11(3):126-32. https://works.bepress.com/lorna_rivera/17/
Wright, A., H. Stieglitz, Y. Kupersztoch, M. Paulk, Y. Kim, I. Katz, F. Munoz, R. Jimenez, J. Mutchler, L. Rivera, A. Back, H. G. Prigerson. (2013). “United States Acculturation and Cancer Patients’ End-of-Life Care.” PLoS ONE. v 8(3):e58663. https://works.bepress.com/lorna_rivera/14/
Jimenez R., Zhang, B., Joffe, S., Nilsson, M., Rivera, L., Mutchler, J., Lathan, C., Paulk, E., Prigerson, H.. (2013). “Clinical Trial Participation among Ethnic/Racial Minority and Majority Patients with Advanced Cancer: What Factors Most Influence Enrollment?” Journal of Palliative Medicine. v 16 (3): 1-8. https://works.bepress.com/lorna_rivera/12/
Balboni, T. A., Maciejewski, P. K., Balboni, M. J., Enzinger, A. C., Paulk, M. E., Munoz, F., Rivera, L. (2013). “Racial/Ethnic Differences in End-of-Life (EoL) Treatment Preferences: The Role of Religious Beliefs About Care.” ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings. v31 (15): 6529. https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.6529
Rivera, L. and N. Lavan. (2012). “Family Literacy Practices and Parental Involvement of Latin American Immigrant Women.” Journal of Latinos and Education v11 (4). 24 pages. https://works.bepress.com/lorna_rivera/6/
Research and Professional Reports
Rivera, L., Granberry, P., Ortiz-Wythe, B., and Borges, M. (2024). "Abriendo Puertas: Exploring the Challenges to Homeownership and Housing Stability for Latinos in Massachusetts." Gastón Institute Publications. 312. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/312
Vega Martinez, J., Torres-Ardila, F., Rivera, L. and Sunday, M. (2023). "Transfer Pathways: Ensuring Transfer Student Success" (2023). Gastón Institute Publications. 311. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/311
Rivera, L., Agarwal, V., and Granberry, P. (2022). "Latinas in the Labor Market." Gastón Institute Publications. 291. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/291
Torres-Ardila, F., Rivera, L., Rojas-Pion, C., Bravo, D. and Chavez, H. (2021). "Sustainable Pathways for Successful Small Businesses in Chelsea, Massachusetts". Gaston Institute Publications. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/264
Torres-Ardila, F., Bravo, D., Chavez, H., Rivera, L., (2020). "Towards a Workforce Development Action Plan in the City of Chelsea: Community Voices". Gastón Institute Publications. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/263
Mutchler, J., Coyle, C., Velasco-Roldan, V., Woods, C., Rivera,L., Watanabe, P., Swan, Q. (2020). “Age Strong for All: Examining Aging Equity in the City of Boston”. Gerontology Institute Publications. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/demographyofaging/49/
Rivera, L., Granberry, P., Estrada-Martínez, L., Uriarte, M., Siqueira, E.,Linde-Arias, A., and Bacigalupe, G. (2020). "COVID-19 and Latinos in Massachusetts" (2020). Gastón Institute Publications. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/253
Rivera, L. (2019). “Latinos in Greater Boston: Migration, New Communities and the Challenge of Displacement.” In Changing Faces of Greater Boston. Schuster, et. al. pp 51-60. Boston Foundation.
Granberry, P., Mattos, T., and Rivera, L. (2018). “Communities in Peril: The Dispersion of Temporary Protected Status Populations throughout Massachusetts. Gastón Institute Publications. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/227
CURRENT PROJECTS
Co-Principal Investigator. University Assisted Community Schools Partnership with Ruth Batson Academy, Boston Public Schools and College of Education & Human Development.
Principal Investigator. Boston Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities (CCR). Funded by Centers for Disease Control. Boston Public Health Commission. Award No. 1 NU58DP007013-01-00.
Principal Investigator. Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19. Funded by Office of Minority Health. Boston Public Health Commission. Award No: 1 CPIMP211244-01-00.
Co-Principal Investigator. Community-Driven Assessment of Environmental Health Risks in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Funded by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United States. G19A112846250. https://saludparavieques.org/
Principal Investigator. Talented and Gifted Latino Program and Proyecto Alerta 5th Quarter Summer Learning Academy. Funded by Boston Public Schools, Boston After School & Beyond.
Additional Information
I am the author of the award-winning book, Laboring to Learn: Women’s Literacy & Poverty in the Post-Welfare Era (2008, University of Illinois Press). I am co-editor of the book, Critical Perspectives on Latino Education in Massachusetts (forthcoming, 2025, UMass Press). My research has been funded by the Society for the Study of Social Problems, the National Academy of Education, the Spencer Foundation, National Center for Family Literacy, and National Institutes on Health. Currently, I am working on the Latinx Student Success Initiative, a partnership with Bunker Hill Community College, to improve retention and graduation rates for Latinx college students. I manage the Talented & Gifted (TAG) Latino and Proyecto Alerta afterschool and summer learning academies that serve Latinx bilingual students in the Boston Public Schools. I currently serve on the Board of Trustees for the Anna B Stearns Charitable Foundation, Board of Trustees at Fenway High School, the Advisory Board for the Center to Support Immigrant Organizing and the Executive Board of Directors for the Inter-University Programs on Latino Research. My leadership has been recognized by several awards including: “50 Most Influential People of Color in Higher Education,” “Latinx Amplifier Award,” and the “Talented And Gifted Latino Champion Award.” In 2019, I was inducted as an Honorary Member of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society. I have been a featured guest and writer in newspapers, radio, and television, most recently appearing on GBH's Basic Black and Under the Radar. My family is from Puerto Rico, and I am a proud alumnus of the Latino Leadership Opportunity Program.
RECENT MEDIA CONTRIBUTIONS
Quoted in Boston Globe. “How to champion Latinx college students in Massachusetts.” July 15, 2024. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/07/15/opinion/latinx-students-higher-ed-massachusetts/
Quoted in Boston Globe. “Riots, arson, and executions: Immigrants have long faced a hostile reception in Mass.” May 8, 2024. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/08/metro/boston-immigration-history-riots-arson-executions/
Featured Guest. “Community leaders celebrate the diversity of Hispanic and Latino cultures across the Commonwealth.” Basic Black. GBH. November 10, 2023. https://youtu.be/nr2ANAzx6eY?si=kovKAnmdZ2HEiGoU
Featured Guest. “Why many Latino Nonprofits struggle to make ends meet.” Under the Radar. GBH. 89.7FM. October 2, 2023. https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2023-09-29/why-many-latino-nonprofits-struggle-to-make-ends-meet
Quoted in Bay State Banner: “Hispanic Heritage Month Begins.” September 20, 2023. https://www.baystatebanner.com/2023/09/20/hispanic-heritage-month-begins/#disqus_thread
Quoted in Boston Globe: “Massachusetts to change how Asian, Black, and other populations are counted in ‘most expansive’ effort in country.” August 21, 2023.
Quoted in Boston Globe: “The mighty Latino institute punching above its weight.”. June 24, 2023.
Featured Interview, Latino Pioneers in Boston Magazine and Documentary by Blanca Bonilla. March 25, 2023. https://youtu.be/Yc52t7m8gLw?si=VJvMGhGCdLrA7yAN
https://quelindoboston.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Magazine_Spring_2024_.pdf
Quoted in: “Massachusetts Latinos worry about high cost of living, significant housing expenses.” GBH News. January 27, 2023. https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2023/01/27/massachusetts-latinos-worry-about-high-cost-of-living-significant-housing-expenses.
Featured Panelist. “The State of Race: The Latino Housing Crisis.” GBH World. January 26, 2023. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1rI_wQN_GE
Quoted in Boston Globe. “Holding on to Boston’s Latin Quarter”. October 11, 2022. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/11/metro/holding-bostons-latin-quarter/
Featured Interview. “Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts gears up for its 55th annual celebration.” Under the Radar, GBH, 89.7 FM. July 22, 2022.
Featured Discussant. ¡Avancemos Ya! Advancing Latino Prosperity in Massachusetts. Boston Foundation, Live-streaming. May 12, 2022. https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/videos/2022/may/avancemos-ya-recap-20220512
Featured Interview. “Report highlights major economic disparities and root causes in Massachusetts Latino community.” Greater Boston, GBH News May 17, 2022. https://youtu.be/sEoOkzYwTYA
Areas of Expertise
Women's literacy, Feminist/critical pedagogies, Social welfare reform, Latina Studies, Race/ethnic/gender health disparities
Degrees
PhD in Sociology. Northeastern University
Post Doc. National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation
Additional Information
Dr. Lorna Rivera is Director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy, and Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, Sexuality Studies & Latino Studies at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Rivera has a Ph.D. in Sociology from Northeastern University. Her research focuses on women’s and family literacy programs, social welfare reform policies, gender/racial/ethnic-based health disparities, and the education of Latinx students. She is the author of the award-winning book, Laboring to Learn: Women’s Literacy & Poverty in the Post-Welfare Era (2008, University of Illinois Press). Her recent publications include a Gaston Institute report “COVID-19 and Latinos in MA” (2020) and “The Impact and Outcomes of Integrating Health Literacy Education into Boston’s Adult Basic Education Programs” in Journal of Health Literacy Research and Practice (2019). Currently, Rivera is P.I. on three federally funded projects examining the impact of COVID-19 and Latinx and immigrant communities. She is also Co-P.I. on the study, “Community-Driven Environmental Assessment” in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Rivera oversees the Talented & Gifted (TAG) and Alerta afterschool programs for Latinx bilingual students in the Boston Public Schools. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Hyde Square Task Force, an arts-based Afro-Latinx youth agency in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, and board member for the Inter-University Programs on Latino Research (IUPLR) in the US. Rivera serves on the editorial board of Signs: Journal of Women & Culture in Society. 2019. In 2019, Rivera was inducted as an Honorary Member of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society.
Current Research Activities
“Rapid Cycle Quality Improvement Approaches for Developing the Capacity of Community-Based Organizations to Address COVID-19 and Cancer Disparities in Latinx Communities.” PIs: Lorna Rivera and Jarvis Chen, Harvard School of Public Health. Funded by U54 UMB Dana Farber Cancer Center Partnership and National Cancer Institutes.
“Boston Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities”(CCR). Funded by Centers for Disease Control and Boston Public Health Commission. Evaluation PIs: Lorna Rivera and Rudy Vega.
“Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19.” Funded by Office of Minority Health. Boston Public Health Commission. Evaluation PIs: Lorna Rivera and Carlos Eduardo Siqueira.
“Chelsea Workforce Development Action Plan”. Funded by City of Chelsea, MA. PIs: Lorna Rivera and Fabian Torres-Ardila.
“Community-Driven Assessment of Environmental Health Risks in Vieques, Puerto Rico.” Funded by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United States. G19A112846250. PI: Lorena Estrada-Martinez. Co-PI: Lorna Rivera
“Talented & Gifted Latino Program & Proyecto Alerta” 5th Quarter Summer Learning Academy. Funded by Boston Public Schools. PI: Lorna Rivera
“Boston Through a Wider Lens: Advancing Ethnic Studies in Boston Public Schools”. Funded by Mass Humanities Foundation and Boston Public Schools. Co-PI: Lorna Rivera
Selected Publications
Books
Rivera, L. & M. Colon. (In progress, UMass Press) Critical Perspectives on Latino Education in Massachusetts.
Rivera, L. (2008). Laboring to Learn: Women’s Literacy & Poverty in the Post-Welfare Era. University of Illinois Press. Winner of 2009 Cyril O. Houle Award for Outstanding Literature.
Professional Reports
Torres-Ardila, F., Rivera, Lorna; Rojas-Pion, C., Bravo, D. & Chavez, H. (2021) "Sustainable Pathways for Successful Small Businesses in Chelsea, Massachusetts". Gaston Institute Publications. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/264
Torres-Ardila, F., Bravo, D., Chavez, H., Rivera, L., (2020). "Towards a Workforce Development Action Plan in the City of Chelsea: Community Voices". Gastón Institute Publications. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/263
J. Mutchler, C. Coyle, N. Velasco-Roldan, C. Woods, L. Rivera, P. Watanabe, & Q. Swan (2020). “Age Strong for All: Examining Aging Equity in the City of Boston”. Gerontology Institute. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/demographyofaging/49/
Rivera, L. & S. Manon. (2020). “Latinos & COVID-19 in Massachusetts.” El Sol Latino v16 n9. https://issuu.com/elsollatino/docs/el_sol_latino_aug20_final
Rivera, L., Granberry, P., Estrada-Martínez, L., Uriarte, M., Siqueira, E.,Linde-Arias, A., & Bacigalupe, G. (2020). "COVID-19 and Latinos in Massachusetts" (2020). Gastón Institute Publications. 253. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/253
Rivera, L. (2019). Latinos in Greater Boston: Migration, New Communities and the Challenge of Displacement. In Changing Faces of Greater Boston. Schuster, et. al. pp 51-60. Boston Foundation. https://www.bostonindicators.org/-/media/indicators/boston-indicators-reports/report-files/changing-faces-2019/changingfaces_6latinos.pdf?la=en&hash=3D5F05E8E4FB5E53B5BCB0C66DCEA6FEAC9F759E
Granberry, P., Mattos, T., and Rivera, L. (2018). Communities in Peril: The Dispersion of Temporary Protected Status Populations throughout Massachusetts. Gastón Institute Publications. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/227
Berardino, M., Mattos, T. and Rivera, L. (2016). How do Latino Students Fare in Massachusetts Charter Schools? An Analysis of Student Outcomes, Enrollment, Teacher Preparation, and Discipline Across Ten Districts. Gastón Institute Publications. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1241&context=gaston_pubs
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Hohn, M. & Rivera, L. (2019). “Results of a Two-Year Study: The Impact and Outcomes of Integrating Health Literacy Education into Boston’s Adult Basic Education Programs.” Journal of Health Literacy Research and Practice. 3(3 Suppl) S25-S32. https://doi.org/10.3928/24748307-20190325-01
Saltmarsh, J. Warren, M. Krueger-Henney, P. Rivera,L., Fleming, R. Haig-Friedman, D. & M. Uriarte.(2015). “Creating an Academic Culture that Supports Community-Engaged Scholarship.” Diversity & Democracy. V18 (1). https://works.bepress.com/lorna_rivera/15/
Fletcher,K., H.G. Prigerson, E. Paulk, J. Temel, E. Finlay, L. Marr, R. McCorkle, L. Rivera, F.Munoz, P. Maciejewski. (2013). “Gender Differences in the Evolution of Illness Understanding Among Patients with Advanced Cancer.”Journal of Supportive Oncology. v11(3):126-32. https://works.bepress.com/lorna_rivera/17/
Wright, A., H. Stieglitz, Y. Kupersztoch, M. Paulk, Y.Kim, I. Katz, F. Munoz, R. Jimenez, J. Mutchler, L. Rivera, A.Back, H. G. Prigerson. (2013). “United States Acculturation and Cancer Patients’ End-of-Life Care.” PLoS ONE . v 8(3):e58663. https://works.bepress.com/lorna_rivera/14/
Jimenez R., B. Zhang, S. Joffe,M. Nilsson, L. Rivera. J. Mutchler, C. Lathan, E. Paulk, H.Prigerson. (2013). “Clinical Trial Participation among Ethnic/Racial Minority and Majority Patients with Advanced Cancer: What Factors Most Influence Enrollment?” Journa lof Palliative Medicine. v 16 (3): 1-8. https://works.bepress.com/lorna_rivera/12/
Balboni, T. A., Maciejewski, P. K., Balboni, M. J., Enzinger, A. C., Paulk, M. E., Munoz, F., L. Rivera (2013). “Racial/Ethnic Differences in End-of-Life (EoL) Treatment Preferences: The Role of Religious Beliefs About Care. ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings. v31 (15): 6529.
Current Public and Community Service
2020-present. Member, Mass General Hospital, DoN Grants Allocation Committee.
2020-2021. Appointed member, COVID-19 Health Inequalities Taskforce, City of Boston.
2019-2021. Boston Public Schools, School Board Committee Member. Co-Chair. English Learners Taskforce.
2018-present. Advisory Board. Center to Support Immigrant Organizing.
2017-present. Board of Directors. Inter-University Programs on Latino Research (IUPLR) in U.S.
2017-present. Board of Directors. Hyde Square Task Force, Jamaica Plain, MA.